Wheel shaped fan

ABSTRACT

A wheel shaped novelty fan is provided with an annular frame; a blade assembly disposed in the annular frame; an electric motor mounted in a central portion of the blade assembly for rotating the blade assembly; a plurality of sections releasably secured to an outer edge of the annular frame; a louvered device rotatably mounted on the motor; a front grill secured to the louvered device; and a rear grill secured to a rear surface of the annular frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to mechanical fans and more particularly to a wheel shaped novelty fan.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional novelty fan comprises a housing adapted to be held by a user; a fan unit provided adjacent to an upper end of the housing and being powered by a motor in the housing; a coupling member attached to the housing at a lower end thereof such that the user holds the housing between the fan unit and the coupling member; and a switch positioned on an exterior surface of the housing between the fan unit and the coupling member, thereby allowing the user to selectively energize the motor and rotate the fan unit while holding the housing.

Notwithstanding the novelty fan, the invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an electric fan comprising an annular frame; a blade assembly disposed in the annular frame; an electric motor mounted in a central portion of the blade assembly for rotating the blade assembly; a plurality of sections secured to an outer edge of the annular frame; a louvered device rotatably mounted on the motor; a front grill secured to the louvered device; and a rear grill secured to a rear surface of the annular frame.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a wheel shaped fan according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the front grill;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled wheel shaped fan;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the assembled wheel shaped fan;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of a wheel shaped fan according to the invention incorporating a second configuration of the front grill;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a third configuration of the front grill; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a fourth configuration of the front grill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a wheel shaped fan in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

An annular frame 2 is provided with a blade assembly 1 therein. A motor 6 is mounted in a central portion of the blade assembly 1 for rotating the blade assembly 1. Four resilient, arcuate sections 4 each include a plurality of parallel groove 31 on an outer surface. The sections 4 are secured to an outer edge of the frame 2 by fasteners (not numbered) to form a tire. A disc shaped louvered device 5 is rotatably mounted on the shaft of the motor 6. A front grill 7 is secured to the louvered device 5. A rear grill 4 is mounted to a rear surface of the frame 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, a wheel shaped fan in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following: The disc shaped louvered device 5 is eliminated. The front grill 7 is replaced by its second configuration of different shape.

Referring to FIG. 6, a third configuration of the front grill 7, having a shape different that shown in the first and section embodiments, is shown and referring to FIG. 7, a fourth configuration of the front grill 7 having a shape different that shown in the first and section embodiments is shown respectively.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric fan comprising: an annular frame; a blade assembly disposed in the annular frame; an electric motor mounted in a central portion of the blade assembly for rotating the blade assembly; a plurality of sections releasably secured to an outer edge of the annular frame; a louvered device rotatably mounted on the motor; a front grill secured to the louvered device; and a rear grill secured to a rear surface of the annular frame. 